Location, Location?

The Insider - Thought, talk, speculation

April 11, 2005

The developers of the super luxury Regent Hotel and condominiums on the site of the former Langford Hotel in Winter Park have made a subtle change to the project's name. Invitations to a cocktail reception and dinner -- the eats are at Del Frisco's Steakhouse on Lee Road -- to discuss the development refer to it as The Regent Orlando Hotel Spa & Residences at Winter Park. Previously, Orlando was not part of the name.

SECURE SAILING

Cruise lines operating out of Port Canaveral are not exactly up in arms over proposed new rules that would require greater use of passports by passengers sailing to and from the Caribbean. Yes, it would be more inconvenient for U.S. travelers who previously could take a short cruise without a passport, but it would help nail down who's who on board. What worries some cruise operators is the first implementation date -- Dec. 31 for the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central and South America. That's the bulk of Florida's cruise market, and there would not be much time to educate passengers about the new rules, a Carnival Cruise Lines representative said. Individuals and companies will get a chance to express views and concerns about the tougher rules, designed to improve border security, during an upcoming public comment period.

Big-league baseball players and managers know quite a bit about airline seats. So former big league skipper Davey Johnson, who has logged many air miles through the decades, is scheduled to be on hand today for a British Airways ceremony in Orlando to help promote the airline's new "Club World flat-bed seat." The electronic seats allow passengers to stretch out or adopt any reclining position, with good lumbar support. British Airways also is celebrating its 20th anniversary of service on the Orlando-London route, and company execs will announce a fare sale while in town.

NOT-SO-PINK SLIPS

Word is that CNL Financial Group Inc.'s job cuts a few months ago did not result in many actual layoffs. Of some 40 positions trimmed when the company decentralized shared services, all but about eight employees ended up in jobs with other CNL companies. The privately held Orlando-based real estate and financial-services company has always been complex, with interlocking businesses and real estate investment trusts. But the company is trying to simplify the structure and make it look more like a standard corporation. The one common denominator for all the units and related companies: James Seneff, CNL founder and majority shareholder.

MONEY'S NOT AN ISSUE

Whatever the problem with the expired medical supplies aboard Delta Connection carrier Chautauqua Airlines recently at Orlando International Airport, it was not an issue of airline finances -- at least for Chautauqua. Chautauqua is owned by Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings Inc., one of the nation's healthier regional carriers. Republic has a fleet of 111 Embraer aircraft and has been adding planes lately. It recently reported a healthy 41 percent gain in operating revenue for the fourth quarter, with cash and marketable securities on hand of $46.2 million at the end of the year. To put some of that cash to work, the company recently got bankruptcy court permission to help with the bailout of US Airways.